Quit reports baseless, we're firmly behind Shafie Apdal - Warisan MPs

Eight Warisan MPs have issued a joint statement rubbishing a report suggesting that a number of them were about to exit the party.

Instead, they are reaffirming their support in the leadership of party president and Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal (above).

"We refer to a news report in Harian Metro dated June 9, 2020, titled 'Ahli Parlimen Warisan dijangka keluar parti (Warisan MPs to exit party)' and several unsubstantiated social media statements on the same matter that have gone viral.

"We firmly deny such baseless rumours and wish to make clear that the said report and statements are entirely false.

"MPs from Warisan have full confidence in the leadership of Shafie Apdal, who is also the Semporna MP and we continue to stand firmly behind with our chief minister through these trying times for our nation," said the eight.

The statement was signed by Liew Vui Keong (Batu Sapi), Darell Leiking (Penampang), Mohamaddin Ketapi (Lahad Datu), Azis Jamman (Sepanggar), Isnaraissah Munirah (Kota Belud), Ma’mun Sulaiman (Kalabakan) , Ahmad Hassan (Papar) and Rozman Isli (Labuan). Shafie himself is the ninth MP representing Warisan in Parliament.

"We remain focused on the important matters at this time: assisting our constituents, the state and the nation at large, however little we can without Parliament in session, to overcome the many dire challenges brought ashore by this Covid-19 pandemic," the MPs said.

They added that such scandalous rumours of defection were a reflection of the sheer desperation of the Perikatan Nasional government to secure and maintain its razor-thin majority in Parliament before the July session where a motion of no confidence awaits Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

"This seems to have sparked an unethical ‘shopping spree’ of MPs of sorts. But not us. We will not betray the people’s mandate. We stand resolute by our principles," said the MPs.

Since taking over the federal government, PN has succeeded in toppling a number of state governments previously helmed by Pakatan Harapan through defections.

Yesterday saw former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman, who is seen as Shafie's arch-rival, being acquitted of 46 charges of corruption and money laundering linked to timber concessions in the state after the prosecution decided to withdraw all charges.  - Mkini